Returning: Doctor Who

As tipped, Doctor Who returns to ABC1 7:30pm Sunday March 31st, as part of its 50th Anniversary Celebrations.

This will be just hours after the UK premiere on March 30, and is the swiftest fast-tracking ABC has ever provided fans.

A new trailer is expected to be released today.

Written by Steven Moffat, ‘The Bells of St John’ will mark the official introduction of the Doctor’s newest companion, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. Having already made two appearances last year, the opening episode will be the first time fans get to see the Clara that will accompany the Doctor across the series’ eight adventures.

Set in London against the backdrop of new and old iconic landmarks, The Shard and Westminster Bridge, ‘The Bells of St John’ will also establish a new nemesis, the Spoonheads, who will battle the Doctor as he discovers something sinister is lurking in the Wi-Fi.

Steven Moffat, executive producer and lead writer, said: “It’s the 50th year of Doctor Who and look what’s going on! We’re up in the sky and under the sea! We’re running round the rings of an alien world and then a haunted house. There’s new Cybermen, new Ice Warriors and a never before attempted journey to the centre of the TARDIS. And in the finale, the Doctor’s greatest secret will at last be revealed! If this wasn’t already our most exciting year it would be anyway!”

Featuring a movie a week from a ghost story to an underwater siege to a period drama, the new series will also introduce new monsters, as well as bringing back fan favourites the Ice Warriors and Cybermen.

Meanwhile the series’ stellar list of guest stars include: Celia Imrie; Richard E Grant; Warwick Davis, Jessica Raine; Dougray Scott and Tamzin Outhwaite, as well as for the first time on screen together, mother and daughter Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling.

Although strangely the Christmas episodes have also been shown in less than a day at least the past two years. Because Christmas night in Britain is Boxing Day in the early hours of the morning here in Australia.

I wonder it they’ll consider at least repeating Asylum of the Daleks and the 2012 Christmas episode on another channel, maybe, to show the two episodes that highlight the new companion. Or at least maybe versions of her. They don’t need to. It was a passing thought.

@ Craig

They split the series up between this year and last year. You can see that with the DVDs/Blu-Rays. As you can buy Series 7 Part 1. So this will be Part 2. Also you could look it up on Wikipedia and other places.